Vermeulen dominates as Sale smash Harlequins

South African flanker Jacques Vermeulen was the driving force behind the Sale Sharks’ devastating second-half surge against Harlequins in Manchester on Friday night.

Sale roared back from 17-12 down at half-time deficit to win in a pulsating English Premiership clash 43-17. 

Sale might have been expected to wilt after a run of four consecutive league defeats. Instead, Alex Sanderson’s side produced their most complete performance of the season, piling on 31 unanswered points after the interval to snap their losing streak in emphatic fashion.

Vermeulen was at the heart of the turnaround. The 30-year-old former Junior Springbok crossed twice in quick succession early in the second half, his powerful ball-carrying and relentless work at the breakdown setting the tone as Sale wrestled control from a shell-shocked Quins.

His brace secured the bonus point and underlined the physical dominance Sale enjoyed as the match wore on.

Ernst van Rhyn and Jacques Vermeulen providing the South African flair on Boxing Day for @SaleSharksRugby 🇿🇦🦈 pic.twitter.com/9qkhEn5at2

— PREM Rugby (@premrugby) December 26, 2025

Harlequins, who had looked sharp in the first half through tries from Marcus Smith and Jack Walker, had no answer once Sale upped the intensity. Alex Wills and Luke Cowan-Dickie kept the hosts in touch before the break, but it was Vermeulen’s impact that blew the contest open.

With confidence surging, Sale ran in further tries through Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, Raffi Quirke and Nathan Jibulu, turning a tight contest into a rout.

NIENABER: Leinster must stop stuffing up

The victory lifts Sale to seventh on the Premiership table and back within touching distance of the playoff places, while Harlequins’ struggles deepen after another chastening defeat.

Photo: Jan Kruger/Getty Images